I heard Captain Hamilton’s name again shortly afterwards.  I was calling at Gladwyn one afternoon.  I was loath to do so in Gladys’s absence, but I dared not discontinue my visits entirely, for fear of Miss Darrell’s remarks.  To my surprise, I found her tete-a-tete with Uncle Max.  She welcomed me with a great show of cordiality; but before I had been five minutes in the room I found out that my visit was inopportune, though Max seemed unfeignedly pleased to see me, and she had repeated his words in almost parrot-like fashion.  ’Oh yes, I am so glad to see you, Miss Garston! it is so good of you to call when dear Gladys is away!  Of course I know she is the attraction:  we all know that, do we not?’ smiling sweetly upon me.  ’She has been away more than five weeks now,—­dear, dear! how time flies!—­really five weeks, and this is your first call.’

‘You know how Miss Locke’s illness has engrossed me,’ I remonstrated.  ‘I never pretend to mere conventional calls.’

’No, indeed.  You have a code of your own, have you not?  Your niece is fortunate, Mr. Cunliffe.  She makes her own laws, while we poor inferior mortals are obliged to conform to the world’s dictates.  I wish I were strong-minded like you.  It must be such a pleasure to be free and despise les convenances.  People are so artificial, are they not?’

‘Ursula is not artificial, at any rate,’ returned Max, with a benevolent glance.  It had struck me as I entered the room that he looked rather bored and ill at ease, but Miss Darrell was in high spirits, and looked almost handsome.  I never saw her better dressed.

’No, indeed.  Miss Garston is almost too frank; not that that is a fault.  Oh yes, Miss Locke’s illness has been a tedious affair:  even Giles got weary of it, and used to grumble at having to go every day.  Of course, seeing Giles once or twice a day, you heard all our news, so we did not expect you to toil up here:  that would have been unnecessary trouble after your hard work.’

Miss Darrell spoke quite civilly, and I do not know why her speech rankled and made me reply, rather quickly,—­

’Nurses do not gossip with the doctor, Miss Darrell.  Mr. Hamilton has told me no news, I assure you.  Gladys’s letters tell me far more.’

I was angry with myself when I said this, for why need I have answered her at all or taken notice of her remark? and, above all, why need I have mentioned Gladys’s name?  Miss Darrell’s colour rose in a moment.

’Dear me!  I am glad to hear dear Gladys writes to you.  She does not honour us.  Lady Betty gets a note sometimes, but Giles and I are never favoured with a word.  Giles feels terribly hurt about it sometimes, but I tell him it is only Gladys’s way.  Girls are careless sometimes.  Of course she does not mean to slight him.’

‘Of course not,’ rather gravely from Max.

’All the same it is very neglectful on Gladys’s part.  If you are a real friend, Miss Garston, you will tell her what a mistake it is,—­really a fatal mistake, though I do not dare to tell her so.  I see Giles’s look of disappointment when the post brings him nothing but dry business letters.  He is so anxious about her health.  He let her go so willingly, and yet not one word of recognition for her own, I may say her only, brother.’